Local Community Steps Up to Lend a Helping Hand
A single mother of seven struggling to get by gets an early Christmas present. Shreveporter Yolanda Brazile recently lost her job and will receive her last unemployment check this week. Moreover, her house is literally falling a part.
“The floors are cracked,” said Brazile. “We have holes in the walls. The doors aren’t even with the thing so a lot of wind comes through and we don’t have any source of heat except the stove and a couple electric heaters.”
Just last week an anonymous good Samaritan learned about Brazile’s situation and called Shreveport police hoping to help.
“Most people call to put people down but they were concerned enough to try to get some help and not try to hurt me,” said Brazile. “I’m overwhelmed.”
Shreveport Police Department Corporal Mike Dunn and Sandra Lister went to work.
“When I called businesses some of them I didn’t tell what I wanted I just told them I had a family I wanted them to meet and when they came out they felt compelled to do it for me,” said Lister.
Within days help poured in. Wilbert Williams with Mt. Mariah Baptist Church will donate $500.00. Calvin and Delores Johnson’s Motorcycle Club will donate a sink and a monetary gift. Richard Rascoe with the Whitlock Plumbing Company will complete all of Brazile’s plumbing work for free.
“If you come to our church and say you need help we will open our doors and our hearts because that’s what Jesus did,” said Williams.
“Some have and some have not,” said Johnson. “It’s always been a close thing to our hearts to help put back into the community.”
“I want to get everything going for her and take care of those little ones and be able to clean up,” said Rascoe.
The outpouring of love is a Christmas miracle Brazile never thought she would receive.
“If I thanked them all day and all night and all month and all year it really wouldn’t be enough,” said Brazile.
C.J. Enterprises has donated $1000.00 to the Brazile family and challenges other businesses to do the same.
The future is looking even brighter for Brazile and her children. Shreveport’s Fuller Center for Housing is currently helping Brazile apply for a brand new home through its program.
© Amber Miller /KTAL
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